Toeboard



Nov. 21, 1939.

TOEBQARD Filed March 2, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR 1 M 04m y BY 10 ATTORNEY TOEBOARD Filed Marchl 2, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR M am ATTORNEY .UNITED STATES Patented Nov. 2l, 1939 PATENT oFFicE 2,180,384 ".roEBoARD Frank E. Austin, Hanover, N. H. Application March2, 1939*, Serial No. 259,410

5 Claims.

used by hammer throwers, discus throwers, and shot putters for defining the extent of their fair movement as the throw is made, and to prevent fouling. `The present day toeboard consists of a wooden segment laid on top of the ground and held in place by means of long pins or spikes that extend down into the ground. This form of anchoring is very insecure and unsatisfactory. Foot and toe of the shot putter very soon undermines the toeboard and the athlete oftentimes catches his foot under it and sprains his ankle yor pulls -a tendon.

'Ihe object of the invention is to avoid the` difficulties above referred to and this by providing a foundation for the toeboard by which it will be securely anchored to the ground without possibility of displacement; one which the athlete will not undermine; one which will eliminate the hazard of ankle sprains and pulled tendons, and one which can easily be set or reset.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings in which- Fig. l is a perspective of the toeboard and its foundation when in place on the ground.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the toeboard and its foundation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the toeboard and its foundation with combined ring when in place on the ground.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings l represents the toeboard of customary type and form.

2 represents a generally triangular flat plate of steel, or other suitable material, of appreciable thickness. The edge 3 of this plate is on an arc corresponding with that of the interior face 4 of the toeboard, and this arc is on a circumference 0f a circle having a 3% foot radius. The toeboard is laid upon the plate 2 providing a foundation therefor so that the inside face 4 of the toeboard will lie ush with the curved edge 3. of the plate. The toeboard is secured to the foundation plate by threaded bolts 6 passed through it and engaging threaded holes 'I in the plate. This type of attachment is made in order that the toeboard may be removed from the foundation plate by turning out the bolts without disturbing the plate itself when set and leaving a fiat surface that may be rolled. K

Secured to the foundation plate, preferably through integral connection with it, is an apron 8..

This apron' depends from the edge s of the plate in direction normal to it. The apron has the same circular formas the edge 3 and is so located that the inside face 9 of the apron will lie flush with the edge 3 of the plate and the inside face 4 of the toeboard. On the under side of the foundation plate isa fin l0. This fin lies normal to the plate, is centrally located with reference to the plate and apron, and has edge contact therewith. The

iin is preferably secured tol theplate and apron IU acts both to reinforce the foundation plate and to vkeep it and the toeboard borne by-it from lateral displacement. The apron 8 on the foundation plate serves two important purposes.l In the first place it prevents horizontal movement of the foundation plate and toeboard borne by it, and secondly, it prevents the foot of the athlete from getting caught under the toeboard by preventing the foot from excavating a hole in the ground under the toeboard.

The toeboard foundation is best made by providing it with a ilat circular ring I I the inside edge I2 of which marks out the limits within which the athlete must stand while shot putting or hammer throwing. The curved inside edge 3 of the foundation plate lies within the circle described by this edge. an apron I3. The apron 8 on the foundation plate and the apron I3 on the ring lie substantially within the same circumference. The ring II may be integrally secured to the foundation plate but is preferably made in sections II1 and these sections are secured to the foundation plate and to oneanother by sh plates I4 on one element which are engaged by bolt and nut attachments I5 on the other element.

'The ring II when set with the foundation plate .acts to assist in anchoring this plategby means of the apron I3` upon it. This apron reinforces the ring and, extending as it does into the ground, it assists in holding both ring and foundation plate against displacement. It, also, prevents the foot of the athlete from catching under the ring.

The toeboard foundation with or without the attaching ring is readily applied to `the ground Depending from the edge I2 of the ring is even by simple rolling, and is readily taken up and reset in a new locality, and when in its new location will be as rm and stable as when in its former place.

The broad top surface of the circular ring is painted white so that the imprint of the foot of the athlete is plainly seen and a foul thus definitely recorded.

I claim:

l. The combination with a toeboard presenting an arcuate face, of a foundation plate adapted to be laid horizontally upon the ground and upon which the toeboard is laid and to which it is secured, said foundation plate presenting an arcuate edge similar to the arcuate face of said toeboard, an arcuate apron depending from the arcuate face of said plate to penetrate the ground on which the foundation plate is laid, and means for securing the toeboard to said foundation plate whereby the arcuate face of the toeboard will lie substantially ush with the inner face of said arcuate apron.

2. The combination with a toeboard of a foundation plate adapted to be laid horizontally upon the ground and upon which the toeboard is laid and to which it is secured, an apron depending from the fore edge of said plate to penetrate the ground on which the foundation plate is laid, means for securing the toeboard to said foundation plate whereby the inner face of the toeboard will lie substantially flush with the inner face of said apron, and a ground penetrating n on the under side of said plate having edge connection therewith and with said apron with extension in a direction substantially normal to said plate and apron.

3. The combination with a toeboard of a foundation plate adapted to be laid horizontally upon l the ground and upon which the toeboard is laid and to which lit is secured, an apron depending from the fore edge of said plate to penetrate the ground on which the foundation plate is laid, means for securing the toeboard to said foundation plate whereby the inner face of the toeboard will lie substantially flush with the inner face of said apron, a ring secured to said toe board and adapted to be laid horizontally on the ground therewith, and a ground penetrating rib on the under side of said ring.

, 4. The combination with a toeboard presenting an arcuate face, of a foundation plate adapted to be laid horizontally upon the ground and upon which the toeboard is laid and to which it is secured, said foundation plate presenting an arcuate edge similar to the arcuate face of said toeboard, an arcuate apron depending from the arcuate face of said plate to penetrate the ground on which the foundation plate is laid, means for securing the toeboard to said foundation plate whereby the arcuate face of the toeboard will lie substantially flush with the inner face of said arcuate apron, a ring secured to said toeboard and adapted to be laid horizontally on the ground therewith, and a ground penetrating rib on the under side of said ring.

5. The combination with a toeboard presenting an arcuate face, of a foundation plate adapted to be laid horizontally upon the ground and upon which the toeboard is laid and to which it is secured, said foundation plate presenting an arcuate edge similar to the arcuate face of said toeboard, an arcuate apron depending from the arcuate'face of said plate to penetrate the ground on which the foundation plate is laid, means for securing the toe board to said foundation plate whereby the arcuate face of the toeboard will lie substantially flush with the inner face of said arcuate apron, a ring secured to said toeboard and adapted to be laid horizontally on the ground therewith, and a ground penetrating apron extending from the inner edge of said ring, said arcuate apron on the foundation plate and the apron on the ring lying substantially within the same circumference.

FRANK E. AUSTIN. 

